March 16, 2013
Richard Stevens:
Bryan Ehlmann and I enjoyed a cool winter day on the eastern plains (26 degrees cooler high than yesterday). Mostly we visited several friends’ ranches. One (my new Snowy Owl friend, found the Snowy Owl last year) has Mountain Plovers nesting on his ranch every summer. He emailed that there was a Mountain Plover on his land yesterday; of course, we had to check it out.
We searched about three hours and never found a Mountain Plover. Perhaps yesterday’s bird was just migrating through to northern nesting areas. We did find a pair of Long-eared Owls! Burrowing Owls also nest on the ranch; however, none was around yet.
Long-eared Owls are probably more common on the eastern plains than predicted. We found a second pair at another ranch. And, a third pair was found at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County). Access to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area closes on April 1st and does not open again until July 15th (closed during nesting season).
Thanks to my friends for a great lunch/barbecue and valuable information for future searches!
NOTE: Prospect Valley has an Eurasian Collared-Dove problem.
After dropping Bryan off at home, I picked up Rebecca. We stopped at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) on our way to dinner. Hundreds of gulls were on the sandbar near the southwest marina.
The 1st cycle Iceland Gull was among dozens of Ring-billed and California Gulls. A few Herring Gulls filled out the mix.
Richard Stevens:
Bryan Ehlmann and I enjoyed a cool winter day on the eastern plains (26 degrees cooler high than yesterday). Mostly we visited several friends’ ranches. One (my new Snowy Owl friend, found the Snowy Owl last year) has Mountain Plovers nesting on his ranch every summer. He emailed that there was a Mountain Plover on his land yesterday; of course, we had to check it out.
We searched about three hours and never found a Mountain Plover. Perhaps yesterday’s bird was just migrating through to northern nesting areas. We did find a pair of Long-eared Owls! Burrowing Owls also nest on the ranch; however, none was around yet.
Long-eared Owls are probably more common on the eastern plains than predicted. We found a second pair at another ranch. And, a third pair was found at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County). Access to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area closes on April 1st and does not open again until July 15th (closed during nesting season).
Thanks to my friends for a great lunch/barbecue and valuable information for future searches!
NOTE: Prospect Valley has an Eurasian Collared-Dove problem.
After dropping Bryan off at home, I picked up Rebecca. We stopped at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) on our way to dinner. Hundreds of gulls were on the sandbar near the southwest marina.
The 1st cycle Iceland Gull was among dozens of Ring-billed and California Gulls. A few Herring Gulls filled out the mix.
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